Fire tragedy highlights landlords responsibilities

A recent tragedy in Rydale highlights a landlords responsibilities towards ensuring that their tenants are safe from the threat of fire.  Two young jockeys died in a blaze in Morton North Yorkshire.  The landlord was subsequently charged in a case brought against him by North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority.  This case highlights the need in particular for landlords of HMO properties to take fire safety seriously and demonstrate through a risk assessment that they have not only installed the appropriate fire prevention measures but that they have thought through the risks as well.

Landlord not directly responsible

The fire was started by another tenant in the block who was subsequently convicted of manslaughter because he was refused entry to a party.  It does highlight that despite the fact that the fire was not the landlords direct fault that they have a duty of care to their tenants and are ultimately responsible for demonstrating that they have taken reasonable fire safety precautions to meet the Fire Safety Order 2005.

To read more details on the case view the article.



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